Container for hypodermic needles



Patented June 19 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER FOR HYPODERMIC NEEDLES Quinton W. Goode, Memphis, Tenn. Application October 21, 1949, Serial No. 122,677

. 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to storage containers, and more particularly to a container for storing hypodermic needles and maintaining the needles in a sterilized condition.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved container for maintaining hypodermic needles in a sterilized condition, said container being very simple in construction, being readily accessible for removing needles, and preventing the hypodermic needles from coming in contact with any non-sterile materials.

A further object of the invention is to provide animproved container for hypodermic needles, said container being inexpensive to manufacture, being sturdy in construction, allowing the needles to be readily sterilized, and allowing any desired needle to be readily removed without contaminating the remaining needles in the container.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of a container for hypodermic needles constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, ll designates the body of the container, said body being shown as generally cylindrical, merely by way of example, inasmuch as the body may be made in any desired shape. The top rim portion of the container body II is outwardly ofiset, as shown at l2, to

define an annular shoulder I3. Designated at M is a relatively thick plate member of suitable metal, such as aluminum or the like, said plate member being shaped to fit into the upper portion of the container I l and being reduced in diameter at IE to define an annular shoulder l6 adapted to abut the internal annular shoulder l3 of the container H. The plate member M is thus securely supported in the upper portion of V the container II, the upper rim portion of the container ll rising a substantial distance above the top plane of the plate member [4, as shown in Figure 2.

The plate member I4 is formed with a plurality of bores l1 which are vertically directed, and which terminate at their lower ends in downwardly-tapering, generally-conical portions [8. At their top ends, the bores I! are formed with annular portions of increased diameter I9 defining annular seats in which are received respective plug members, shown at 20. Each plug member 20 has an upwardly-projecting vertical stud portion 2 I. Designated at 22 is a flanged cap member, the annular flange of which is shown at 23. As shown in Figure 2, the flange 23 fits over the top rim portion I2 of body II, the top edge of the rim portion 12 engaging the top wall of the cap 22 to prevent said top wall from contacting the top surfaces of the studs 2!.

As shown in Figure 2, a hypodermic needle, designated at 30, may be supported in each one of the bores H, the conical portion 3| of each needle 30 being supported on the tapered bottom portion l8 of the bore I1. The plugs 2!) normally cover the bores I1 and protect the needles 30 from contamination. The top surfaces of the studs 2| may carry suitable numerical designations corresponding to the various sizes of the hypodermic needles stored below the respective plugs 20.

All of the needles in the container H may be sterilized simultaneously by placing the entire container in a sterilizer and subjecting the container to the required sterilizing treatment. After sterilization, the container may be placed in a suitable cabinet or similar location until the needles are required for use. When it is desired to use a needle, the cap 22 is removed from the top of the container and the plug 20 overlying the desired needle is removed by means of suitable forceps. This exposes the desired needle in its well or bore [1. The syringe with which the needle is to be employed is then inserted into the bore and the tip of the syringe is pressed into the head portion of the desired needle. The syringe and needle are then withdrawn for use. The plug 20 which was previously removed is then repositioned in the bore in an inverted position, indicating that the needle formerly located therein has been removed.

It is thus seen that any desired needle may be removed without contact with or possible contamination to the other needles in the container. After the desired needle has been removed, the cap 22 is replaced on the container and the container is restored to its storage location.

The space in the container below the plate member I 4 may be filled with absorbent cotton or gauze.

While a specific embodiment of a container for hypodermic needles has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A receptacle for hypodermic needles comprising a container having an open upper end and having an outwardly projecting shoulder formed adjacent the upper end, a plate member having a flange seated on the shoulder and supporting the plate member transversely in the upper portion of the container, said plate member being formed with a plurality of vertical bores, each bore terminating at its lower end in an inwardly and downwardly-tapering conical seat for the reception of the enlarged heads of needles which depend therefrom into the container, each bore being formed at its upper end with a portion of increased diameter defining a seat, respective removable plug members fitting the seats at the upper ends of the bores, and a removable flanged cap member fitting over the top of the container, the top rim of the container being elevated above the top surfaces of the plug members.

2. A receptacle for hypodermic needles comprising a container, a plate member transversely secured in the upper portion of the container,

said plate member being formed with a plurality 4 of the needles which depend therefrom into the container, each bore being formed at its upper end with a portion of increased diameter defining a seat, respective removable plug members fitting the seats at the upper ends of the bores, each plug member being provided with an upstanding axial stud element bearing a numeral on its top surface for identifying the needles held in the bores, and a removable flanged cap member fitting over the top of the container, the top rim of the container being elevated above the top surfaces of the upstanding stud elements of the plug members.

QUINTON W. GOODE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 747,368 Boye Dec. 22, 1903 921,149 Norwood May 11, 1909 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 818,956 France June 28, 1937 

